Thread carrier



0. M. SCHMIDT THREAD CARRIER Filed Jan. 14. 1948 r 0H0 M. Schmidt INVENTOR.

(puny 8% Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in thread carriers and more particularly to thread carriers for full fashioned hosiery knitting machines and the like, wherein the thread is payed out through a replaceable thread guiding tube which is removably mounted on the thread carrier.

An important object of the invention is to provide a thread carrier designed to prevent costly damage to sinkers and needles as well as to other parts of the machine and which is an objectionable feature to the present type of high speed hosiery machine. To overcome this objection I provide a turret in which the thread carrying tube is mounted whereby the tube may swing toward either side out of line with the sinkers and needles and thus prevent damage to these parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a removable mounting for the thread carrying tube to facilitate replacement thereof without removing the carrier from the machine.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de-' tails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the thread carrier with the tube supporting turret mounted in position therein,

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view with theturret and thread carrying tube removed,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the turret, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the nu meral 5 designates the thread carrier which com prises substantially a metal strap having a thread guiding groove 6 of gradually increasing depth and width extending longitudinally thereof toward its free end. The carrier 5 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending slots 1 extending inwardly from its free end to provide a pair of fingers 8 at the side edges of the carrier at each side of a central finger 9 which carries the groove 5.

The outer endsof the fingers 8 are curved oppositely to form arcuate jaws H], the inner edges of the upper and lower surfaces of which are rabbeted as shown at H to form an inwardly projecting arcuate flange 12 on the opposed edges of the jaws It and positioned midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the jaws as shown more clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The end of the central finger 9 is formed with an outwardly extending tongue l3 of semi-cylindrical form to provide a rounded under surface as shown at M.

A turret in the form of a disc I5 is formed in its peripheral edge with agroove IE to receive the flanges l2 of the jaws Ill by sliding the turret inwardly between the jaws to rotatably lock the turret therebetween by a snapping action.

The upper surface of the turret l5, at its inwardly disposed edge, is cut away or rabbeted as shown at H to expose the inner edges of the flanges I2 and a groove I8 is formed in the rabbeted portion I! to receive the tongue l3 in a snapping action.

A bore [9 extends transversely of the turret IS in alignment with the groove IB and in which a thread carrying tube 26 is removably positioned, the outer end of the tube projecting outwardly beyond the outer edge of the turret.

In the operation of the device, the turret l5 with the thread carrying tube 26 therein is snapped into position between the jaws H) by sliding the turret inwardly on the flanges l2 and with the tube held aligned with groove 6 by tongue (3 snapped in groove 18 of the turret.

The turret is free to swing toward either side should the outer end of tube 26 strike the sinkers or needles of the machine (not shown) to thus prevent damage to the machine.

The outer end of carrier 5 is curved downwardly at a desired angle in accordance with the type of knitting machine on which the same is used.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same thread guide groove, a fiat rotatable member at the outer end of the arm, and a thread guide carried by said member and aligned with said groove, said rotatable member automatically swinging the guide toward one side of the arm upon striking of the guide with a part of the machine.

' I 3. A thread carrier for knitting machines comprising a supporting arm, a disk-like member 'rotatably carried at the outer end of the arm,

catch means releasably holding the member in a fixed position on the arm, and a thread guide carried by said member.

4. A thread carrier for knitting machines comprising a supporting arm having a free end, a disk-like member rotatably mounted in a. coplanar position at the free end of the arm, and a thread guide carried by said disk-like member.

5. A thread carrier for knitting machines comprising a supporting arm, a pair of resilient arcuate jaws at the outer end of the arm, and a turret swingably held between the jaws and having a thread guide tube. V

6. A thread carrier for knitting machines com- .prising a supporting arm having a turret seat at its outer end, a turret swingably held on the seat in a coplanar position with the arm, and a thread guide tube carried by the turret.

7. A thread carrier for knitting machines comprising a supporting arm, a pair of arcuate resilient jaws at the outer end of the arm, a turret swingably carried by the jaws and held therein by a snap action, and a thread guide tube carried by the turret.

8. A thread carrier for knitting machines comprising a supporting arm constructed to provide a pair of spaced parallel fingers having arcuate jaws at their outer ends, and a central finger between said pair of fingers and having a thread guide groove therein, a locking tongue on the outer end of the central finger, a flat turret I swingably carried between the jaws and having a seat for the tongue to hold the turret stationary, and a thread guide tube carried by the turret.

9. A thread carrier for knitting machines comprising a supporting arm constructed to provide 7 a pair of spaced parallel fingers having arcuate jaws at their outer ends, and a central finger between said pair of fingers and having a thread guide groove therein, a locking tongue on the outer end of the central finger, a fiat turret swingably carried between the jaws and having a seat for the tongue to hold the turret station'- ary, and a thread guide tube carried by the turret, and projecting radially therefrom for automatically swinging the turret toward one side upon interference of the tube with a part of the machine.

OTTO M. SCHMIDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,675,627 Willard Julyr3, 1928 1,893,808 Spector Jan. 10, 1933 ,026,514 Weisbecker Dec. 31, 1935 2,087,830 Wrightson July 20, 1937 2,104,815

Richter et a1 Jan. 11, 1938 

